Quick answers please - originality issues

[767Jockey]

I'm running short on time as the car goes to painter Friday and I leave for a month the next day. Questions I have are:

1- Defroster vents. My car had aluminum vent covers over drilled holes in the cowl. I have no defroster in the car. Did the original S/C's have these defroster vent covers? If they did, were they painted body color with the stripes on them, or were they raw aluminum? I'm inclined to leave them off unless they came originally with the S/C's.

2- What side of the car does the hood prop belong on?

3- What side of the car does the trunk prop go on?

4- Is the striping diagram on the ERA site accurate? It shows tapered stripes. Were the S/C stripes tapered or straight?

5- Anyone have a paint code that approximates the look of the creamy white of the original white gel cote on the footboxes?

6- Did the S/C's have a cowl mounted center rear view mirror? Was it the round one or rectangular one?

Any other common mistakes normally made that I should be aware of?

[computerworks]

1. S/C had no defroster

2. Hood prop pass side

3. Trunk prop drivers side

4. ERA diagram is accurate for ERA's

5. your call..they get creamy looking with age.

6. Rear view mirror on S/C was rectangular

[fsstnotch]

4. absolutely go with the tapered stripe. it looks funny without it.

Good layout diagrams and answers to almost all of your questions

http://allthingscobra.tripod.com//au...c_touches.html

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by computerworks

4. ERA diagram is accurate for ERA's

OK, Ron - I give!
What's the deal? I'm guessing the stripes ERA uses are not the same as the S/C's? Where can I find the correct stripe dimensions?
Would it help if I say please? I'm right in West Islip - I can be in Northport in minutes with a bribe of some sort if that's required!

[fsstnotch]

I'm pretty sure the originals were 7 1/4 with 1" space and no taper. It's been posted here before. I'll see if I can find it.

Mirror placement and vent info can be found on the website I posted.

[Power Surge]

Also, the mirror should not be centered on the car. It should be about an inch to the right of the center. Correct mirror is a Lucas, not the generic mirror that comes on every Cobra currently.

The trunk doesn't get a prop rod like the hood, it uses a latched metal telescopic arm. (not sure what your car comes with)

[csx700?]

Trunk gets a "folding arm" ? The trunk should get a sliding / telescoping (looks similar to a tool box drawer slider) arm type of mechanism with a built in automatic catch mechanism to hold it open. When the trunk is open to release the catch you lift up on the trunk lid and the mechanism releases allowing the trunk lid to close.

[Excaliber]

...like the ones ERA come with.

[cobred]

Are you going to paint the stripes under the clear or put them on top so you can feel the edge? I think on top is correct.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by csx700?

Trunk gets a "folding arm" ? The trunk should get a sliding / telescoping (looks similar to a tool box drawer slider) arm type of mechanism with a built in automatic catch mechanism to hold it open. When the trunk is open to release the catch you lift up on the trunk lid and the mechanism releases allowing the trunk lid to close.

Heh, your description is better than mine was . Talking about the same thing though, I'll edit my post.

[767Jockey]

Thanks, all. I'll have to try to find the Lucas rear view mirror. I have the right trunk rod system, or whatever the term is. Open the trunk and it stays up. To close it lift it enough to release the mechanism and it'll close. I think it's the right one. Anyone have a lead on the Lucas rear view mirror? I can go search for it, but someone likely knows off the top of their head.

Two things for Sal -
Where'd you get the nifty original looking regulator (I found your pictures after my original post about it. I know looks and location now, just need to know where to find one.

Also, what do you think - tapered or untapered stripes? My car will never be near as original looking as yours, but as long as I'm getting things done here I might as well do what I can.

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by cobred

Are you going to paint the stripes under the clear or put them on top so you can feel the edge? I think on top is correct.

I hadn't thought about painting on top of the clear. This may be a point at which I pass on originality and go with what I like, which is stripes under the clear. Good point though, Ed - thanks for bringing it up!

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

Thanks, all. I'll have to try to find the Lucas rear view mirror. I have the right trunk rod system, or whatever the term is. Open the trunk and it stays up. To close it lift it enough to release the mechanism and it'll close. I think it's the right one. Anyone heave a lead on the Lucas rear view mirror? I can go search for it, but someone likely knows off the top of their head.

Two things for Sal -
Where'd you get the nifty original looking regulator (I found your pictures after my original post about it. I know looks and location now, just need to know where to find one.

Also, what do you think - tapered or untapered stripes? My car will never be near as original looking as yours, but as long as I'm getting things done here I might as well do what I can.

My mirror is off an original car, but I also bought one when I had my Kirkham from Motorsports International. Unfortunately, they have fallen off the face of the earth as of late. Try doing searches for Lucas parts suppliers. There are still some out there, mostly in England.

Stripes.. my stripes taper from 7.5 at the cowl to 6 inches at the nose. Dunno if that's "correct", but I think my stripes look good.

As for the regulator, try AMK, and try any of the Mustang restoration suppliers. Mine has modern electronics in it. I just swapped the correct cover onto a modern regulator that had the correct base. Modern regulators have rivited covers, but that doesn't matter because the old style covers screw on.

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by Power Surge

My mirror is off an original car, but I also bought one when I had my Kirkham from Motorsports International. Unfortunately, they have fallen off the face of the earth as of late. Try doing searches for Lucas parts suppliers. There are still some out there, mostly in England.

I'll give it a shot.

Originally Posted by Power Surge

Stripes.. my stripes taper from 7.5 at the cowl to 6 inches at the nose. Dunno if that's "correct", but I think my stripes look good.

Do they also taper at the rear? ERA shows a rear taper as well. They start at 7 1/2" at the rear of the cockpit, and taper down to 6 1/4" at the rear of the car.

Originally Posted by Power Surge

As for the regulator, try AMK, and try any of the Mustang restoration suppliers. Mine has modern electronics in it. I just swapped the correct cover onto a modern regulator that had the correct base. Modern regulators have rivited covers, but that doesn't matter because the old style covers screw on.

That's exactly what I want to do. I have an electronic regulator that I'll drill the rivets out of and slap the "correct" cover on. Thanks for the info, I'll check all the Mustang places. They have blue and black covers. The black one is the one I'm looking for, correct? With the big "Autolite" stamp on it?

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

Do they also taper at the rear? ERA shows a rear taper as well. They start at 7 1/2" at the rear of the cockpit, and taper down to 6 1/4" at the rear of the car.

Whether the stripes on a car taper or not has nothing to do with how original SC's were done. There is no ‘norm’ or factory specification for stripes on a Cobra, if in fact a customer ordered stripes.

The reason stripes taper from more narrow at the front and back to a wider stripe when they reach the cockpit is to 'correct' an optical illusion. When you view a car with stripes from the front or rear it is like looking down a set of railroad tracks. The tracks are parallel but appear to narrow in the distance. By making each stripe a little wider at the cockpit you eliminate the illusion of the 'tracks' coming together.

Lay them out to your taste, just remember that this illusion can exist.